13 Ways to Deal With Food Temptation

 13 Ways to Deal With Food Temptation

 
Let's be honest: Improving your eating habits is hard, even when you are doing the shopping and cooking. But what do you do when you are constantly being tempted to eat more by the people around you, or the situation you're in? Relax. While resisting temptation is never easy, we've come up with stay-in-control strategies for 13 of the most common situations in which temptation might call. If there's a common theme, it's this: Be prepared! By having a plan (or merely a script for what to say) you can make smart eating choices in every situation that life throws at you.

1. It's birthday-cake time at work
Passing on your colleague's cake looks as curmudgeonly as refusing to sing 'Happy Birthday,' but it's hard to celebrate the 300 calories, about half from fat, packed into a simple slice of store-bought frosted yellow cake. The socially acceptable way out is to ask for a thin slice, and then eat a small number of bites you've decided on beforehand, says dietician Elizabeth Somer, author of Eat Your Way to Happiness. You're most likely to keep your promise to yourself, adds Somer, if you've eaten right all day, without 'saving room' for cake. Another calorie-saving trick: leave the icing on your plate and just eat the cake. And while most office parties involve soda, skip it and bring a full coffee mug.

4 Steps to Burn 1200 Calories a Day

4 Steps to Burn 1200 Calories a Day

 
Burning 1,200 calories is not as difficult as it may seem. A 100-lb. person can burn more than 300 calories just sleeping, as estimated by Health Status Internet Assessments. Take into consideration breathing, digesting and the overall functioning of your body to stay alive, and you are very close to burning 1,200 calories without trying.

Step 1
Perform 90 minutes of physical activity per day. A person who weighs 180 lbs. and runs at 6 mph for 90 minutes will burn over 1,200 calories, as estimated by Health Status Internet Assessments. Using the elliptical will burn 1,200 calories for a 160 lb. person in 90 min. Lighter people may have to perform more vigorous exercises compared to heavier people to achieve a 1,200-calorie expenditure. "The bodies of people who are larger or have more muscle burn up more calories--even at rest,"

11 Tips to Get The Most Out of Doctors

11 Tips to Get The Most Out of Doctors - By Doctors

 
 To be a smart patient, you can't be passive; you need to be a first-rate Sherlock Holmes. Like Holmes, smart patients ask intelligent questions and have the instincts (and guts) to politely challenge things they don't understand. They don't need to know the most esoteric medical details, but they need to put at least as much effort into finding out the basics about their health as they did in getting the driving directions to our office. Ultimately, you are the person most responsible for the success of your health. Here, what great doctors know that great patients can learn.

1. Get your stories straight. Bring your spouse or partner to your doctor's appointment when you're giving your health history or describing a problem; there are a lot of questions that only a partner can answer (such as how many times an hour you stop breathing while asleep). But beware the doc's sixth sense. When you tell us that you rarely tear into the Pringles after 8 p.m. or that you've been taking your cholesterol-lowering drugs with the discipline of a Marine, your spouse will shoot you (or us) a look that says, "Are you kidding me?" We never miss it. And hey, sometimes your spouse wants to blow your cover. It's called love. But if you try to snow us, we might try to trip you up. For example, we'll ask if you're fit enough to climb three flights of stairs. You'll say yes, unless you're over 85 or bedbound. Then we'll ask, "When was the last time you climbed three flights?" You'll say "Maybe a month... " and your spouse will send a look that says, "You haven't climbed three flights of stairs since we voted for Ike."

5 Tips to Deal With Food Cravings

5 Tips to Deal With Food Cravings

 
Do you find yourself craving specific foods to your detriment? Find out when to give in to your desire, how to control cravings, and when they can be a sign of an underlying health problem.

1. Give in to the best cravings
In a weight loss study by the USDA Agricultural Research Service, the people who lost the most weight gave into their cravings for more caloric foods but did so less frequently than their larger counterparts. The bottom line: Choose the Ben & Jerry's Super Fudge Chunk you crave over the low-fat frozen yogurt. Just be sure not to choose it often.

4 Reasons to Skip Late Night Snacks

4 Reasons to Skip Late Night Snacks

 
Late night snacks are my favorite way to guarantee I get to the leftovers before my husband can scarf them down.

The way I see it, it's like the old proverb about bears in the woods -- if no one sees me eating it, was it really my fault the pizza disappeared?

But some recent news on the nocturnal munchies front has just made me re-think that tub of Chubby Hubby.
Turns out late night eating is bad for more than just your marriage.

 

1. Your teeth. A new study has found that folks who snack in the middle of the night are more likely to lose their teeth as they age. The problem? No one is brushing their teeth after that spoonful of peanut butter at 2 a.m. And your saliva is slowing down -- so the food isn't being broken down.

101 Best Things About Summer

101 Best Things About Summer

You probably already broke out the shorts and the sunscreen weeks ago, but today marks the first official day of summer. In an effort to enjoy every little moment of these all-too-brief days of surf and sunshine, we've put together a laundry list of some of our very favorite summer delights. Add yours in the comments!

1. lemonade stands
2. whirring vintage fans
3. sundresses
4. fireflies
5. wildflowers by the highway

5 Lifesaving Mobile Health Apps

 5 Lifesaving Mobile Health Apps

From monitoring orgasms to locating clean bathrooms in your neighborhood, there seems to be an application for  everything. But amidst all the hokey and often useless tools there are some real lifesaving and changing technologies, particularly where self-health management is concerned. We took a trip to the iPhone Apps Store, and found 5 helpful health applications for you.  Take a look and see what we uncovered!

Health Trackers: One minute you’re feeling fine, the next you start feeling that knee pain that seems to come and go.  It’s next to impossible to keep track of each new ache, pain and symptom that affects you in between visits to the doctor. Thankfully, there are several mobile gizmos that promise to remember your health history so you don’t have to! iHealthTrax, MyHealthRecords and MyMedical each let you keep track of illnesses, allergies and historical medical records. Plus, they store information for physicians, emergency contacts and insurance providers in one central repository so you have it handy at all times.

7 Anti Aging Secrets

 7 Anti Aging Secrets

 
 Check out some of our best advice to help you feel younger and healthier.

 1. DNA Life Changer
Healthy habits can actually repair your DNA, say researchers Dean Ornish, MD, and Elizabeth Blackburn, MD. Their study subjects ate vegetarian whole foods with 10 percent of calories from fat, walked 30 minutes six days a week, used stress-reducing techniques, and went to a weekly support group. The results? Besides a decrease in LDL cholesterol and stress levels, they showed a 29 percent rise in telomerase. This enzyme repairs and lengthens telomeres, tiny protein complexes on the ends of chromosomes that are vital for immunity and longevity. Short telomeres and low levels of telomerase signal an increased risk of heart disease and cancer, plus a poor prognosis if you do get ill.

Editor's Note -- October 5, 2009: Elizabeth H. Blackburn (mentioned below), Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostak have just won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their breakthrough work on telomerase, which was discussed in a Reader's Digest article (see below) published earlier this year

 

5 Evil Foods to Avoid While Traveling

5 Evil Foods to Avoid While Traveling

Unfortunately, every food served public spaces like train stations and airports is completely evil. The only way to eat healthy while taking a trip is to bring your own cheese slices, cut veggies, nuts, sandwich on whole wheat bread, homemade whole-grain granola, etc. I am a constant traveler who gained five pounds every trip until I learned how to eat. Trust me. Here are some things to avoid:

1. Fruit
You think that the fruit available at someplace like an airport Starbucks is the only "whole" "natural" option. And though it's not organic, it's true that especially a banana whose pesticide-laden peel you are going do discard is the most neutral option available to you in a train station or an airport. How-ever, fruit has a lot of sugar in it. Good sugar, but still dangerous sugar. You eat some sugar, you have a temporary spike in energy and well-being, and then a crash. The crash makes you hungry and cranky and your body starts demanding food. People tend to think that they're weak or piggish or that this is some kind of moral failing, but that's the diet industry talking. When your blood sugar is screaming at you, there's not much a brain can do in its own defense. All that is available at that point will be plane/train food, which you will then eat. Don't fall for the fruit. Same goes for fruit juice.

6 Helpful Tips to Reduce Anxiety

6 Helpful Tips to Reduce Anxiety

 
Most of us, at one time or another, will worry.  Whether we worry about something minor, such as meeting a deadline, or we worry about something more life-changing, such as finding a job, worry is part of every day life. A certain amount of worry is healthy and helps us deal with challenges that require our attention.  Too much worry, however, can cause undue stress that can negatively impact our health in both the short- and long-term.

Stop Worrying !

As a result, it is best to deal with worry and anxiety in a constructive way so as to reduce and manage the stress it causes.  Here’s how:

1. Pinpoint the Cause. Identify the source of your concern. This will help you to evaluate what would be a constructive reaction or way to handle the situation.

8 Life Saving Questions Every Woman Should Ask Her Dad

8 Life Saving Questions Every Woman Should Ask Her Dad

 
We asked a few great docs for a list of questions every daughter should ask her dad about his Health history. Follow their talking points and jot down his answers. You'll be surprised how much you learn.

1. Were any of your blood relatives obese? Girls inherit body type and metabolism from their father's family just as much as their mother's, according to Tara Brass, M.D., medical director of Columbus Park Collaborative, a private center for the treatment of eating disorders. In fact, one gene abnormality -- called Prader Willi Syndrome -- is inherited from fathers and is characterized by an abnormally increased appetite.

20 Super Foods for Weight Loss

20 Super Foods for Weight Loss

It's time for a new slim-down mantra: Eat more to weigh less. No joke! The right foods help you drop pounds by revving your calorie burn and curbing cravings. We consulted top experts for the best picks and asked leading chefs for easy, tasty ways to prepare them. Add these eats to your plate today and you'll be slimmer and healthier in no time!

Steak

Beef has a rep as a diet buster, but eating it may help you peel off pounds. In a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, women on a diet that included red meat lost more weight than those eating equal calories but little beef. "The protein in steak helps you retain muscle mass during weight loss," says study author Manny Noakes, Ph.D. Try to consume local organic beef; it's healthier for you and the environment.

Eat more Grill or broil a 4-ounce serving of top round or sirloin; slice thinly to top a salad, or mix with veggies for fajitas.

Eggs

Dig in to eggs, yolks and all: They won't harm your heart, but they can help you trim inches. Women on a low-calorie diet who ate an egg with toast and jelly each morning lost twice as many pounds as those who had a bagel breakfast with the same number of calories but no eggs, a study from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge reports. "Egg protein is filling, so you eat less later in the day," says David Grotto, R.D., author of 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life (Bantam).

Eat more Omelets and scrambles are obvious choices, but if you can't cook before work, bake a frittata on Sunday; chill it and nuke slices for up to a week. An easy recipe: Vegetable Frittata.

9 Ways To Set Up Your Day To Be An Amazing One

9 Ways To Set Up Your Day To Be An Amazing One

 
I believe it was Lance Armstrong who once said, "I now only have good days or great days."

When you think of it that way, every day truly is an open opportunity to love more, grow more, share laughter with a friend or to help somebody in need. No day is wasted when your mind is set to only have good days or great days.

I have found that many of my awesome days have many common characteristics: shared in good company, allowing the day to unfold without rushing anything, getting excited by a community project, or simply being happy with the abundance that is in my life.
Though we can't predict what will happen in the course of a day, there are many things we can do to make our mind, body and spirit CONDUCIVE to having a great day. We can get a good night's sleep so we are mentally alert enough to appreciate the good things in life and physically rested enough to jump onto a fun, spontaneous activity after a day of work. We can get in the habit of meditating, or even creating one new intention every morning.
And even if your day turns out pretty stressful (work overload) or annoying (long wait at the DMV), if you make it a point to squeeze in an 'I love you' or a hilarious phone conversation with a loved one, then your day is still pretty great at the end.

 

1. Get 7-9 hours of sleep. It's hard to have an awesome day when you are sleep-deprived, cranky, and annoyed with life.

6 Healthy Ways to De-Stress With Food

6 Healthy Ways to De-Stress With Food

 
Eating when stressed can be a bad habit when the food of choice is a candy bar or bag of chips. Try these healthy foods that are actually proven to lower stress levels.

1. Snack on a handful of nuts. They’re packed with magnesium, which seems to help keep cortisol levels low. Nuts are high in calories, so if you’re watching your weight, make sure not to eat more than a dozen a day.

5 Habits of Americas Healthiest Women

5 Habits of America's Healthiest Women

 
Women in West Coast cities rank among the healthiest in the country, according to studies by the The Journal of the American Medical Association, Self magazine, and Centrum. So what’s their secret? They each excel at one or more of the following healthy practices. Adopt a few of their rituals and you, too, may be able to join the ranks of the healthiest women.

Eating Fruits and Veggies
Take your cue from fit San Franciscans, who on average eat 52 servings (or cups) of fruit a month. The Department of Health and Human Services advises that adults consuming 2,000 calories per day eat two cups of fruit and two and a half cups of vegetables each day. Daunted by this recommendation? Don’t be! You can easily get your suggested fill of fruits of veggies by doing small things like preparing salads for lunch, stir-frying veggies to go with your dinner, and opting for a flavorful fruit dessert.

5 Tips For Getting Motivated and Moving in the Morning

5 Tips For Getting Motivated and Moving in the Morning

 
With temps rising, in order to prevent overheating and avoid exposure to the sun's damaging rays, it's best to exercise in the early morning. If setting your alarm early to exercise before heading to work seems cruel impossible, here are some tips to get you moving in the morning.

1. Lay out your outfit and all the fitness gear you'll need the night before so when you wake up, you won't waste time searching for a matching pair of wicking socks, a clean sports bra, or your headphones. Also charge any gear you might need like your iPod.

4 Ways to Eat for More Energy

4 Ways to Eat for More Energy

 
When the afternoon doldrums set-in, we go in search of that time-honored combo: sugar and caffeine. And for about 15 minutes, it works wonders: We're productive, energetic, and chatty (maybe a little too chatty). Of course, that's followed by the inevitable crash. In search of a better way, we asked nutritionist Lauren Slayton, founder of Foodtrainers, a nutrition counseling service in New York City, for advice on how to eat for more energy throughout the day.

Think small. "All I want after a big meal is a siesta," says Slayton. "Instead of eating a 500-calorie lunch, try small meals of 200 or 300 calories instead. This will stoke your metabolism and keep your blood sugar levels from dipping." She tells clients to heat half their lunch at 12:30 and the other half at 4. "People brag that they don't snack, but snacking is the best way to eat," she adds.

Pump iron. "Whenever someone says she is low in energy, I immediately assume that her diet is also low in iron and protein," says Slayton. Iron deficiencies can leave you fatigued and the amino acids in protein help you feel alert. She recommends noshing on peanut butter and apples, oatmeal with walnuts, eggs, and edamame. Seeds (such as pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower) are also a favorite snack. They are all high in vitamin B and protein, "so they act like little pellets of energy."

Stay hydrated. People rarely get enough water early in the day, and staying hydrated goes a long way toward sustaining energy level, "because even mild dehydration causes your blood to thicken, forcing the heart to work harder, which results in fatigue." Slayton recommends drinking a liter of water by noon, and at least a liter, if not two, after lunch. She adds that seltzer and herbal tea can take the place of boring H2O, but steer clear of juice, which has all the sugar of a piece of fruit without the fiber.

Give in. If you decide you must have some caffeine or sugar, be smart about how you consume it. Green tea has about a third of the caffeine of coffee—so you won't crash as hard—and it's rich in antioxidants. When you crave something sweet, reach for a whole grain cookie rather than candy. "Fiber has a time-release effect on sugar and carbohydrates, so they enter your bloodstream at a slow and steady pace," says Slayton.

Source: The World Wide Web! - Back to Da Factopedia Homepage

5 Easy Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp

5 Easy Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp

 
Research shows there’s lots you can do to avoid those “senior moments.” Some techniques worth trying:

 

1. Chill Out
The brain remembers better when it’s relaxed, say researchers at the California Institute of Technology. Take a few minutes each day to breathe deeply or meditate.

5 Ways To Overcome Jealousy

5 Ways To Overcome Jealousy

 
Most of us would probably consider ourselves generously spirited people, genuinely happy for others when good things come their way. Even still, most of us can say we are no stranger to that familiar pang of jealousy over someone else's career, house, or crazy long legs. I myself felt a twinge of this recently when all the coolest people in my 'hood were profiled in a magazine as being fabulous and creative, which they are. I felt stoked for their publicity. But that little whiny voice inside could still be heard saying, "Why aren't I in the magazine?" As much as of any of us try to not pay attention to whatever the Joneses are up to, jealousy can still creep in. Here are five ways to keep that green-eyed monster in check:

1. It's usually not a zero sum game. Feelings of jealousy usually get set off when we see someone with more than us: more money, more love, more Manolos. But their stuff doesn't have anything to do with us. Their success in scoring a life-long love or the house of their dreams doesn't mean there's less in the world to go around. It's not like Aunt Eloise's famous blueberry pie at the Memorial Day barbecue; there's plenty for everyone, including seconds.

iPhone 3GS v/s iPhone 4 - Infographic

 iPhone 3GS v/s iPhone 4 - Infographic

 
The iPhone 3GS has had its time, Its time to switch over to the iPhone 4 now.



Source: The World Wide Web! - Back to Da Factopedia Homepage

5 Summertime First Aid Essentials

 5 Summertime First Aid Essentials

 
 Summer is exciting, but it's also true that spending so much time outside can be hard on your skin.
 
Don't let sunburn, bug bites, or poison ivy spoil your summer fun. Mother Nature can soothe your pain without hurting your wallet or the planet. Below are five inexpensive and easy-to-find first-aid essentials you'll turn to again and again.

Aloe vera

The gel from the meaty leaves of this spectacular succulent is a topical wonder. Rub it on the skin after sitting in the sun for too long or after being attacked by bite-happy bugs and it will cool, moisturize and promote healing. Chaffin' like crazy after a long, sweaty hike in the woods? Apply a lil aloe gel to irritated skin and experience sweet relief courtesy of Mamma Nature. If you have space and want to go straight to the source, buy an entire aloe plant. Or just pick up a couple tubes of commercially available aloe gel — many brands are organic — at your local health food or drug store.

5 Cancer Fighting Garden Herbs

5 Cancer Fighting Garden Herbs

 
Oh, the lovely bounty of nature. As the weather warms, home gardeners around the country are able to look no further than their backyard for flavorful herbs to add that farmstead layer of taste to their dinner entrees. We’ve always known they’re yummy but now we know they offer a heck-of-a-lot more than just flavor.
 
Everyday garden herbs possess legions of medicinal properties and, when eaten in conjunction with healthy vegetables and spices, have powerful cancer-preventive properties. “The easiest, least-expensive way to reduce your risk for cancer is just by eating a healthy diet,” says Rachael Stolzenberg-Solomon, PhD, MPH, RD, a researcher at the National Cancer Institute in a recent article. Below are five, easily-found, herbs you might consider eating more of.

Rosemary

Commonly used in cooking, the leaves of this garden herb have a noticeable woody fragrance, thanks to the fatty acids of terpenes, a naturally occurring substance that encourages the cancer cells in tumors to stop reproducing and eventually die.

Today, research has discovered that when the terpene from rosemary is given alongside the chemotherapy drugs Adriamycin and Velban, cancer cells may begin to absorb the chemotherapy that they had previously resisted. In many cases the plant’s natural terpene either brought about the demise of the cancerous cells or helped reduce their spread.